Obituary of Joan Carol Taft
Joan Carol (McWilliams) Taft died on January 20, 2018. She had been lovingly cared for by her youngest daughter, Cindy Favreau, and her family through the final years of her life. She was born on February 7, 1934 to Joseph and Geneva McWilliams in Butler, Pa.
Joan met the love of her life, Robert LeRoy Taft at the County Fair at Wolfe’s Corners. Bob knew when he first saw her that he would marry her one day and in 1952 he did. They were married for 65 years and she became the support person on the home front whose world revolved around his.
In 1954, Joan took their first born child to Paris, France where Bob was stationed with the US Army. Her adventurous spirit was important since this was only the beginning of her travels as she supported Bob in the work of advancing his career. She made and moved to the many lovely places they called home as they traveled to locations in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Missouri, North Carolina and Florida. She worked in family businesses selling Highlights for Children Magazine, running the concession stand at Tionesta Dam, operating a camp ground in Itchtucknee Springs, Florida. She had the intelligence and energy to do whatever life called her to do. She was fun-loving and funny. Joan’s fine mind was always tuned in to the changing world around her. Her openness and common sense made her an excellent problem solver who naturally thought outside the box.
Joan was a master of the domestic arts and her home was full of those things that she made herself from clothing to curtains to canned foods. She could paint or wallpaper like a pro and even became a master at taping drywall seams. She was a great berry picker and gardener. She would always say that she had a great teacher in her own mother and she in turn passed these skills to her children and grandchildren. She was an accomplished painter and enjoyed making beautiful things. She was proud to be able to “do a lot with a little.” Joan’s love for her family was her greatest accomplishment. It was steadfast through many hardships. She would say that God was the source of her strength, but she had a loving nature that was all her own. She was often known to say that, “love conquers all” and this was how she lived her life.
Joan’s children are Robin Joan Gordon Taft who resides in Vermont with her husband, Scott; Richard Stephen Taft who resides in Keene, NH with her son Manny Robert; and Cynthia Ann Favreau who resides with her husband Tim in Titusville. Her much loved grandchildren also include; Alicia Favreau of Seattle, WA, Jesse Clement (Skye Johnson) of Queensland, Australia, Katrina Favreau of Titusville, Joseph Cesare (Amondine Canata) of London, UK, and Nikyta Favreau also of Titusville. Joan was particularly grateful for Moira Violet Favreau, her first great grandchild. Joan also found room in her heart for her nieces and nephews and their families - the children of her late sister Audrey Johnson; Karen Weber (Tom) of Orlando, FL, Curtis Johnson of Buffalo, NY, Eric Johnson (Betz) of NC, and Jenny McCleary(Bruce) of Tulsa, OK.
Joan was a brilliant, creative and energetic woman whose gifts are left here in this world in many forms. The world is a better place for the time she spent here.
There will be no services. Inurnment of her cremains will take place at a later date when her ashes will be comingled with those of her husband and divided for burial with her parents (Wolf’s Corners) and his (Warren, PA).
